BJP promises Rs 3,000 a month, reservation in govt jobs to Bengal women

The BJP's West Bengal election manifesto focuses on cracking down on infiltration, providing financial aid to women and unemployed youth, and improving conditions for state employees.

Mixing hardline promises on infiltration, the Uniform Civil Code and 'Ram Rajya' with a welfare-heavy package for women, unemployed youth and farmers, the Bharatiya Janata Party on Friday unveiled its West Bengal poll manifesto in what appeared to be its sharpest bid yet to prise away the social coalition that has kept the Trinamool Congress in power since 2011.

Union Home Minister Amit Shah turned the 'Sankalp Patra' release programme in Kolkata into a pitch wrapped in welfare promises, Bengali symbolism and a sharp attack on Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, seeking to frame the election as a direct contest over identity and welfare.

He promised that if voted to power, the BJP would implement the Uniform Civil Code in Bengal within six months, appoint a 'son of Bengal' as chief minister and establish what he called 'Ram Rajya' in the state.

Defending the UCC promise amid TMC attacks that it was majoritarian, Shah said the proposal did not originate with the BJP.

"It is the Constituent Assembly that recommended it. Is having the same law for every citizen appeasement? Or is it appeasement when one citizen is allowed four marriages and another only one?" he said.

The manifesto also promised strict laws against 'love jihad' and 'land jihad' and a law guaranteeing every citizen the freedom to practise religion and faith.

Shah also declared that a BJP government would adopt a 'detect, delete and deport' policy against infiltrators.

"We will move with zero tolerance towards infiltration," he said, promising to seal Bengal's borders, stop cattle smuggling and clear government land of 'encroachers and infiltrators'.

Key Promises on Border Security and Citizenship

The manifesto promised 'citizenship and rehabilitation for all Hindu refugees', many of whom allege large-scale deletions from voter rolls in SIR exercise.

The BJP said that within 45 days of coming to power, it would provide all land needed for border fencing and introduce modern scientific patrolling in rivers and canals with the Centre's help.

The manifesto promised three white papers on 15 years of alleged TMC corruption, deterioration of law and order and political violence in the state.

It also promised a commission headed by a retired Supreme Court judge to investigate political violence and take every case 'to its logical conclusion', regardless of which party suffered.

Welfare Initiatives and Employment

The BJP also sought to breach the TMC's strongest bastion -- women voters.

The party promised Rs 3,000 a month for every woman in Bengal, free travel on all state-run buses, 33 per cent reservation for women in all government jobs, including the police, and one women's police station in every block.

Pregnant women would receive Rs 21,000 and six nutrition kits, while two women battalions of the State Reserve Police Force named after Matangini Hazra and Rani Rashmoni would be created.

A special police unit called the 'Durga Suraksha Squad' and a self-defence training force for women were also promised.

The BJP's Rs 3,000 promise is widely being seen as a direct counter to the TMC's flagship Lakshmir Bhandar scheme.

The TMC, in its own manifesto, has promised to raise Lakshmir Bhandar to Rs 1,500 for women from the general category and Rs 1,700 for SC and ST women.

The BJP also sought to tap discontent among unemployed youth, promising them Rs 3,000 a month and an additional Rs 15,000 to prepare for competitive examinations.

The party seeks to outbid the TMC, which has offered Rs 1,500 a month to unemployed youth.

Those who lost jobs because of the school recruitment scam and other corruption-related cases would be given age relaxation of up to five years, while the BJP also promised 'transparent, merit-based' recruitment and permanent jobs for deserving candidates.

Shah also attempted to exploit the long-running resentment among state government employees over pending Dearness Allowance, promising DA parity with the Centre and implementation of the Seventh Pay Commission within 45 days.

For farmers, the BJP promised to raise annual assistance under PM-Kisan to Rs 9,000 by adding Rs 3,000 from the state government.

It also promised one crore jobs and self-employment opportunities, a startup network and 75 lakh 'Lakhpati Didis'.

The BJP also wrapped its Hindutva plank in the language of Bengali pride and culture, seeking to blunt the TMC's long-running charge that the saffron party is 'anti-Bengali' and culturally alien to the state.

Shah assured Bengalis that a BJP government would not interfere with their food habits and no one will stop people from eating fish and eggs.

Seeking to consolidate its hold over North Bengal, which accounts for 54 assembly seats, the manifesto promised constitutional recognition for Rajbanshi and Kurmali languages, an AIIMS, IIT, IIM, sports university and a fashion designing institute in the region.

A cancer hospital, a special development plan for Haldia port, deep-sea ports at Tajpur and Kulpi, four townships and a 10-year plan to turn Kolkata into a globally recognised 'living city' also featured in the document.

Darjeeling would be developed as a heritage tourism destination, while the hills would be developed 'keeping Bengal united'.

The BJP also spoke about its CM face.

"Bengal's CM will be someone born in Bengal, who speaks Bengali and is capable. If the state is run from Delhi, that is still better than being run from Bangladesh."